Communication Matters

Impairments in hearing can happen in either frequency (the high or low pitch of a sound) or intensity (the volume of a sound), or both. For example, a person may not be able to hear very high-pitched noises like a whistle, or they may not be able to hear the TV unless the volume is turned up – or both. Hearing loss severity is based on how well a person can hear the frequency or intensities most often associated with speech. Severity can be described as mild, moderate, sever, or profound. Hearing loss can be congenital (occurring from the time of birth) or acquired (developing later in life after a period of normal hearing). Hearing loss can affect one or both ears – and in different degrees of severity in each ear. A loss that affects one ear is called a “unilateral” (one-sided) hearing loss. A loss that affects both ears is called a bilateral (two-sided) hearing loss.

Tags: Audiology, Hearing Aids, Hearing, Hard of Hearing, Hearing Loss

When your hearing aids do not provide enough help in certain environments, or if you don’t wear hearing aids but need help hearing only in certain situations, you may want to consider an assistive or alerting device. Discuss with your audiologist which devices might be helpful to you. At CHSC, we offer a variety of devices and can you determine which is right for you.

Tags: Audiology, Hearing Aids, Communication, Hearing, Hearing Loss

The Outer Ear

The outer ear is what most people consider “the ear.” It consists of a flap of skin/cartilage (called the pinna or auricle) on the outside of the head. It collects sound and directs it into the ear canal. The ear canal is a closed tube with hairs and “wax glands” in the outer portion. Our ear canal is self-cleaning. The wax glands produce wax, or cerumen, and the tiny hairs push the wax out of our ears. As the wax moves out of the ear, it cleans the ear canal and keeps unwanted critters, such as insects, out of the ear. At the end of the ear canal is the eardrum, or tympanic membrane. When air moves it creates vibrations. These sound vibrations are collected by the pinna and directed into the ear canal, to the eardrum, causing it to vibrate just like the head of a drum when you hit it with a drumstick. When an audiologist or physician looks into a healthy, unobstructed ear with an otoscope, s/he can see the outer surface of the eardrum.

Tags: Audiology, Communication, Hearing, Hearing Loss

Auditory processing is basically how hearing works between the ear and the brain. It consists of a specific set of skills that most of us perform without any difficulty – or awareness. These include:

Tags: Audiology, Hearing, Learning

A cochlear implant is a small, surgically implanted electronic device that can help to provide access to sound to people with severe to profound hearing loss and those who cannot hear or understand speech with hearing aids. While hearing aids make sound louder, cochlear implants directly stimulate the nerve fibers in the inner ear (cochlea). An implant does not create normal hearing; instead, under the appropriate conditions, it can give a deaf individual useful auditory understanding of speech and environmental sounds.

Tags: Hearing Aid, Audiology, Hearing Aids, Hearing, Deaf, Hard of Hearing

As of 2004, Ohio law requires that all Ohio hospitals and birthing centers must offer the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) before discharge. Technology allows for hearing to be checked at any age, including newborns. The methods used are safe, quick and effective. The hearing screening determines whether a more detailed evaluation of a baby's hearing is needed. These hearing screening reports must be sent by the birthing hospital to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).

Tags: Audiology, Hearing Aids, Hearing, Hearing Loss

Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center has had a long history of serving people with communication needs regardless of their ability to pay. Our Audiology Patient Assistance (APA) Program is available to those who require hearing aids and demonstrate financial need. In addition, we are a provider for Medicaid and Medicaid Managed Care plans including CareSource. These programs are targeted to those who have limited financial resources.

However, traditionally, there has been essentially no financial support available for people who are working to pay bills and support families but for whom the cost of hearing aids could be prohibitive. Because of the high cost, many people who fall under this category would typically avoid treating their 

Tags: Audiology, Hearing Aids, Hearing, Support

My beautiful baby is born and the feelings of joy are immense. Everything is brand new and a little overwhelming. The routine hearing screening at the hospital is performed. Wait. What? My baby needs more testing? But that doesn’t make sense! We have no history of hearing loss in the family and my baby is "healthy.” I do as suggested and schedule a full diagnostic test. The results show a permanent hearing loss. The audiologist is recommending hearing aids.

Tags: Hearing Aid, Hearing Aids, Communication, Hearing, Hard of Hearing, Hearing Loss

 

Communicating with your deaf or hard of hearing child is extremely important. The key to your child's language development and learning success is using two-way communication: that is, interacting with your child and encouraging your child to interact with you.

Tags: Hearing Aids, Communication, Hearing, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Hearing Loss, American Sign Language, Interpreting, ASL

 

As a parent, you will always want what is best for your child.  At times, however, you may not be certain where to turn for help when a problem arises. Be assured - there are numerous professionals available to assist. Following is a helpful list you may refer to when determining your next steps.

Tags: Support, Caregiving